Divine Fortune wins $250K Grand National at Far Hills Race

FAR HILLS — Divine Fortune was the big winner at the 93rd Annual Far Hills Race Meeting on Saturday, taking home the $250,000 Grand National at Mooreland Farms — the richest race on the National Steeplechase Association's calendar.

There was a total of $550,000 in purses on the line Saturday throughout the seven races.

Kisser N Run won The Peapack; Canaveral won The Harry E. Harris; Bluegrass Summer won the first division of The Foxbrook Champion Hurdle; Sacred Soul won the second division of The Foxbrook Champion Hurdle; Schoodic won The Gladstone; and Chessboard won the New Jersey Hunt Cup at the end of the day.

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Jockey Willie McCarthy rode Chessboard during the New Jersey Hunt Cup, but earlier in the day, he fell off horse ExtraExtraordinary during the first division of the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle. ExtraExtraordinary lost McCarthy at the last fence of the ride, fractured his right front leg and was humanely euthanized after the race, according to Don Clippinger, of the National Steeplechase Association.

McCarthy fell off the horse but not seriously injured.

"We don't know at this point whether it was that the horse lost his rider because he was suffering from the injuries, or whether the injuries occurred after," Clippinger said. "At racing speed, just about anything can happen."